Led by dholi Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the States, melding the infectious Punjabi rhythm Bhangra with brass funk and expressing the human spirit through improvisation. Comprised of dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), sousaphone, drumset, percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays fresh originals, as well as popular baraat songs and Bollywood numbers with an explosive stage performance and presence. In the short time since their inception, the group has delivered blistering performances at the Chicago World Music Festival, Madison World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, DJ Rekha's Basement Bhangra, 4th Annual Droma Gypsy Festival, Chile Pepper Fiesta, Joe's Pub, The Kitchen performance art space, India Independence Day Parade, Barbes, as well as a live radio broadcast on John Schaefer's Soundcheck WNYC-FM 93.9, an NPR affiliate. Red Baraat also recorded the credit roll theme song for the movie, The Yes Men Fix the World and performed for Ports 1961 at the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (NYC).

Music Connection Magazine :: "...a raucous, blaring, clashing celebration of a multitude of cultures come together as one joyous explosion." - Henry Lewis

The Philadelphia Inquirer :: "An irrestible "dhol 'n' brass" nine-piece from New York City. He [Sunny Jain] invented "dhol 'n' brass" - and this record proves that Red Baraat rules it.

Chicago Reader :: "The band artfully hybridizes Indian bhangra and something akin to New Orleans second-line funk. Plus it's fun as hell." - Peter Margasak

Pistolera's accordion-driven melodies invite you to a dance party at the Brooklyn-Mexico border. Fans around the world are dancing cumbias to the group's socially conscious songs--en español--about immigrants' rights, war, racism, feminism, and life on the border. Pistolera's two albums, Siempre Hay Salida (2006) and En Este Camino (2008), were produced by Grammy-winner Charlie Dos Santos. The band has toured in the U.S., Belgium, Holland, Portugal, and Mexico, and has shared the stage with Los Lobos, Lila Downs, The Mexican Institute of Sound, Kinky, Ely Guerra, Los Amigos Invisibles, Vieux Farka Toure, and Ozomatli, among others. Billboard Magazine said it was "...glorious and galvanzing. If this is homework, it gets and A."

“"…watching lead singer and guitarist Sandra Lilia Velásquez stamp out a beat in her boots to bandmate Maria Elena's accordion melodies, you inevitably feel as though you've landed in the heart of Mexico. The blend of soulful ranchera, peppy cumbia, and Spanish lyrics evokes a feeling that's distinctly south of the border, yet not too far south."‐THE BOSTON GLOBE

“…this stylish foursome deliver positive messages that make you want to think and dance. I predict that MexicanAmerican Vocalist & Guitarist Sandra Lilia Velasquez will be the Joan Jett/Lila Downs of web savvy Latino Gen Y'ers who can't get enough of artists who rock ut with their accordions.” URBAN LATINO MAGAZINE

Gabriel Teodros is the everyday journeyman with more stories to tell than most people twice his age. Having seen both city and countryside through the eyes of a struggling artist and immigrant child, Teodros spins observations and wordplay into internationalism on wax. Linking first and third world people's struggles, he is sincere when he says "we in this together son, your beef is mine." From ciphers at Westlake to spending months in Vancouver and Brooklyn, Gabriel's story is one of trial, tribulation and a search for redemption. The contrast of his onstage ferocity with his offstage humility reveals a multifaceted spirit who understands that the political is personal. Whether addressing political repression and resistance in East Africa or reflecting on the effects of patriarchy in his relationships, Teodros captures each moment soulfully with his unmistakably (north)west coast delivery. Teodros has left a mark in the underground NW hiphop scene as one half of the duo Abyssinian Creole (with emcee Khingz & DJ WD4D), and since the late 90's has been seen rocking microphones from classrooms to theatres, clubs, stadiums, protests, prisons to street corners alongside the likes of Zap Mama, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, K'naan, Ozomatli, Barrington Levy, KRS-One, Digable Planets and Fishbone to name a few. Even before dropping his solo masterpiece, 'Lovework,' Teodros already had love from a community who eagerly anticipate his next story to tell. Since the release of 'Lovework' Gabriel Teodros reached #1 on the CMJ Hip Hop Charts, released 4 music videos, was featured on NPR and in URB Magazine's "Next 100", and has been recieving rave reviews everywhere from Rolling Stone to Okayplayer.com Gabriel has also been staying busy on tour in support of the 'Lovework' album, working with youth in South Seattle & doing whatever he can to help other artists get their voices heard while recording the future classics right out of his home.

"Teodros has brains, musicality and a refreshing attitude." - Robert Christgau, Rolling Stone Magazine


"Gabriel Teodros lets his heart bleed on his solo album, Lovework. He delivers a number of powerful messages here, and out of all the albums I have reviewed thus far, I consider this the most important because of the level of social consciousness packed in." - Okayplayer.com